Priest accused of groping girl a month after being ordained

MORRISTOWN -- The Diocese of Paterson has revoked the church assignment of a newly-ordained priest accused of putting his hand under a teenage girl's skirt and touching her buttocks.

The Rev. Marcin Nurek, 37, was ordained into the priesthood on July 1 and had been expected to start Aug. 15 as Parochial Vicar of Saint Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes, the diocese's spokesman told NJ Advance Media.

However, diocesan officials reversed course after Nurek was charged Thursday with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.

He allegedly put his hand under the girl's skirt, touched her buttocks over her underwear and told her, "You're sexy," the Daily Record reported. The girl was described as over the age of 13, but under 16.

Richard Sokerka, spokesman for the Diocese of Paterson, said, "The diocese is deeply saddened by the charges filed against Rev. Nurek and offers its prayers to everyone involved, especially the minor who has come forward."

Nurek remains jailed in Morris County.

The reported incident involving Nurek and the unidentified girl allegedly occurred Thursday at a location in the Town of Boonton not disclosed by authorities, the Daily Record reported.

Sokerka said the diocese was notified of the arrest later that night by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

"Since then, the Diocese has cooperated fully with the Prosecutor's Office in its investigation," Sokerka said.

"In addition, Rev. Nurek was immediately placed on administrative leave, his faculties were revoked and his assignment as Parochial Vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes, was concluded," Sokerka said.

Nurek appeared via video hookup Friday in Superior Court and is scheduled to return Wednesday for a detention hearing, the Daily Record reported.

He arrived in the U.S. from Poland in March 2015, five months after passing an international criminal background check, Sokerka said.